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How I Saved the World in a Week
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2021
11 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Polly Ho-Yen
15 books43 followersPolly Ho-Yen was born in Northampton and brought up in Buckinghamshire. She studied English at Birmingham University before working in publishing for several years.
Her first novel, Boy in the Tower, published in July 2014 by Random House Children's Publishers, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Her second novel Where Monsters Lie was published in 2016 and her third novel, Fly Me Home, was published in 2017. Both of these novels were also nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
She now writes full-time and lives in Bristol with her husband.
Her first novel, Boy in the Tower, published in July 2014 by Random House Children's Publishers, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Her second novel Where Monsters Lie was published in 2016 and her third novel, Fly Me Home, was published in 2017. Both of these novels were also nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
She now writes full-time and lives in Bristol with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 27, 2021
“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.” I couldn’t get this Joseph Heller quote out of my head when I was reading this book. Billy’s mother, Sylvia, teaches him survival skills every chance she gets. Never mind that a lot of the time this preparation takes place during school hours.
When people start turning grey, Billy starts to think that this is what his mother has been preparing him for. Only his father won’t believe him, believing instead that Sylvia’s preoccupation with teaching her son survival skills is merely a symptom of her mental illness.
Although there’s plenty of action, at its heart, this book is about hope, resilience and having trusted people you can rely on.
‘You have to be ready.’While he loves spending time with his mother and learning new skills, like how to make fire without a match, Billy doesn’t love needing to change schools regularly.
‘Ready for what?’
I mean, what’s the point in trying to get to know someone when you might disappear at any moment?He also misses his father, who he hasn’t seen for years.
When people start turning grey, Billy starts to think that this is what his mother has been preparing him for. Only his father won’t believe him, believing instead that Sylvia’s preoccupation with teaching her son survival skills is merely a symptom of her mental illness.
I wouldn’t, couldn’t, believe that everything Sylvia had taught me was all for nothing.Thankfully, Billy is about to meet Anwar, who is enthusiastic and loves conducting experiments, and Angharad, who’s loyal but isn’t always that great at keeping her promises (you’ll forgive her for breaking the ones she does, though). His new friends believe Billy about the Greys because they’re kids, so thankfully they haven’t yet learned to disbelieve the unbelievable.
I think: this is what friends are to each other - someone who knows, without you having to explain, that right at that moment all you need is their help.Although it’s not mentioned in the author’s note at the end of the book, I got the feeling this book was written, at least in part, during the pandemic. Especially when I read sentences like this:
It’s like we’re cut off from the world even though we’re surrounded by people.The resolution was a bit too easy and neat for my liking but, taking into consideration the fact that I’m decades older than the target audience, my thoughts on this aren’t especially relevant. If I’d read this book when I was a kid I would have needed everything to work out the way it did.
Although there’s plenty of action, at its heart, this book is about hope, resilience and having trusted people you can rely on.
‘This thing happening, it shows us the things that are really important. The things that really matter. Everything else … everything else just drops away.’Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
November 30, 2021
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my thoughts or opinions**
This is a book which improved with each chapter. The character relationships and plot development were well-paced and gained interest as the story went on. I really loved the deeper message behind this one, to trust the ones you love. The friendships formed throughout weren't my favourite, but were definitely needed for plot.
Where this lost me a bit was the ending. It wrapped up very suddenly and the ramifications of what happened wasn't really explored. For a middle grade, this was quite scary. I would recommend this to year 6/7 students (12-14 years old) simply for the content.
This is a book which improved with each chapter. The character relationships and plot development were well-paced and gained interest as the story went on. I really loved the deeper message behind this one, to trust the ones you love. The friendships formed throughout weren't my favourite, but were definitely needed for plot.
Where this lost me a bit was the ending. It wrapped up very suddenly and the ramifications of what happened wasn't really explored. For a middle grade, this was quite scary. I would recommend this to year 6/7 students (12-14 years old) simply for the content.
August 2, 2021
I feel kind of like a stuck record here, but Polly Ho-Yen wrote one of my favourite books of all time, and another that I absolutely love and need to read again, so I couldn’t have been happier when I realised she was releasing her first middle grade book in four years in 2021. I’m so obsessed with Polly’s writing, and I love this new story that she’s created. It’s about Billy, whose mum is obsessed with him learning survival skills, and how they become very useful when a mysterious virus that turns people grey. Billy is such a wonderful, compassionate and clever boy, and I adored him, especially as certain things about him reminded me of Ade from Boy in the Tower. I also loved his friendships with Angharad and Anwar, as well as both of them as characters in their own right, and I found Sylvia, Steve and Julie really interesting as they’re all quite complex and show that adults don’t always know best or have all the answers. It was really interesting to learn so much about survival skills throughout this, and I loved how everything Billy learned became vital after the Greys started attacking the world. The plot, as with all of Polly’s books, is so unique and interesting and I’m obsessed with her apocalyptic yet gentle sci fi ones especially. At its core though, like with Boy in the Tower, this is about heart and humanity coming together under unamiginable conditions, and it’s a beautiful book that I really just couldn’t put down. I don’t know when Polly’s next book is due out, but I’ll be picking it up the moment I’m able to.
May 11, 2021
Brave and utterly gripping, this is an edge-of-your-seat tale of survival that will delight fans of The Boy in the Tower, Orphans of the Tide and Crater Lake. Filled with all of the chills and thrills that you’d expect of Polly Ho-Yen’s dystopian middle-grade stories, the story is also served with a generous helping of emotional poignancy that explores themes of family bonds, mental health, learning to trust and never giving up on those you love.
Sylvia has always taught her son Billy the basic rules of survival; always be prepared, pay attention, trust no-one, master your fears and never stop trying. Sylvia loves taking Billy on outdoor adventures and making sure that he is always as ready as possible for surviving whatever may come their way. But Billy knows that his mum’s behaviour is different from other parents. Her actions become increasingly erratic and she soon removes Billy from school altogether to prioritise survival lessons. After a crisis weekend when one of their survival lessons goes awry, Sylvia is admitted to hospital for mental health help, and Billy is sent away to live with his Dad in Bristol. Billy knows more than anything how much Sylvia loves him, but now he feels alone, confused, and cross with the grown-ups who do not seem to think that Sylvia is able to look after him well. Among the strangeness of living in a new place, Billy notices other unexpected things starting to happen. Before long, a mysterious virus seems to take hold in the local area, turning people into zombie-like creatures called ‘Greys’. Suddenly, the world appears to change in the blink of an eye, and Billy and his new family embark on a race against time when Billy's survival skills will be more important than ever.
Like the very best dystopias, Polly Ho-Yen’s sci-fi worlds always feel just the smallest step away from our own and, after the past year, reading a virus-themed story felt both daunting and relatable. The fast-paced virus escape scenes are quite frightening in places, but the zombie-esque appearances of the victims helps to maintain a fictional edge that stops the tale becoming too close to home. There’s a well-crafted mirroring between the physical virus taking hold of the area and the mental health crisis that has been gaining a grip on Sylvia’s mind over a number of years. Billy’s character development in the story is beautiful, and by the end of the narrative, he has formed a good set of real-world survival skills of his own that will help him to navigate the ups and downs of growing up and making trusting relationships with others.
This is an exciting thriller that packs an emotional punch and leaves you rooting for the main character. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but is sure to thrill mature readers in KS2 who love a page-turning plot with a rollercoaster of emotions and a few truly nail-biting scenes to get stuck into.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a proof copy.
Sylvia has always taught her son Billy the basic rules of survival; always be prepared, pay attention, trust no-one, master your fears and never stop trying. Sylvia loves taking Billy on outdoor adventures and making sure that he is always as ready as possible for surviving whatever may come their way. But Billy knows that his mum’s behaviour is different from other parents. Her actions become increasingly erratic and she soon removes Billy from school altogether to prioritise survival lessons. After a crisis weekend when one of their survival lessons goes awry, Sylvia is admitted to hospital for mental health help, and Billy is sent away to live with his Dad in Bristol. Billy knows more than anything how much Sylvia loves him, but now he feels alone, confused, and cross with the grown-ups who do not seem to think that Sylvia is able to look after him well. Among the strangeness of living in a new place, Billy notices other unexpected things starting to happen. Before long, a mysterious virus seems to take hold in the local area, turning people into zombie-like creatures called ‘Greys’. Suddenly, the world appears to change in the blink of an eye, and Billy and his new family embark on a race against time when Billy's survival skills will be more important than ever.
Like the very best dystopias, Polly Ho-Yen’s sci-fi worlds always feel just the smallest step away from our own and, after the past year, reading a virus-themed story felt both daunting and relatable. The fast-paced virus escape scenes are quite frightening in places, but the zombie-esque appearances of the victims helps to maintain a fictional edge that stops the tale becoming too close to home. There’s a well-crafted mirroring between the physical virus taking hold of the area and the mental health crisis that has been gaining a grip on Sylvia’s mind over a number of years. Billy’s character development in the story is beautiful, and by the end of the narrative, he has formed a good set of real-world survival skills of his own that will help him to navigate the ups and downs of growing up and making trusting relationships with others.
This is an exciting thriller that packs an emotional punch and leaves you rooting for the main character. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but is sure to thrill mature readers in KS2 who love a page-turning plot with a rollercoaster of emotions and a few truly nail-biting scenes to get stuck into.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a proof copy.
May 29, 2021
4.5⭐️
An extremely wholesome book about a boy who believes in his mother when no one else would. My heart goes out to dear Billy. He’s brave, kind and strong. I rooted for him all the wayyy!!
This was a surprisingly emotional ride 🤣
An extremely wholesome book about a boy who believes in his mother when no one else would. My heart goes out to dear Billy. He’s brave, kind and strong. I rooted for him all the wayyy!!
This was a surprisingly emotional ride 🤣
April 23, 2022
Polly Ho-Yen has fast become one of those authors I always make a point of reading when she brings out a new book. Since her eye-catching debut back in 2014 with The Boy in the Tower, she has continued to impress with Where Monsters Lie (2016) and Fly Me Home (2017). Polly usually writes for the top end of primary/lower Middle Grade age groups, although she has also recently written an adult dystopian novel Dark Lullaby (2021) which I will get round to checking out soon. She is not strictly a horror writer, but her fiction including her latest How I Saved the World in a Week (2021) always feature very dark elements. Some of the blurbs of her new novel list this as ‘age 8+’ but at 380-pages, very small writing, and complex story I doubt very few eight-year-olds would manage How I Saved the World in a Week and I would raise the reading age to 10/11+. By contrast, it was significantly more complex and challenging than The Boy in the Tower which is also read in secondary school by younger readers. There is also a lack of action to grab younger readers, in actual fact it takes over 200-pages for the novel to move into its second stage, where the infection takes off, which is much too long for the younger age groups.
Young Billy narrates the fascinating story and we quickly realise that his mum is not like any others and he frequently changes schools and accepts her odd and erratic behaviour. Instead of watching television his mum teaches him survival skills such as tying knots and how to use the stars for direction, a theme which is revisited throughout the book. From our interpretation of Billy’s mum, we quickly assume that the former scientist (crucial to the plot) has mental health problems which he does not understand. The mother’s gradual decline dominates a fair bit of the first 200-pages with Billy going to live with his dad whilst she is in hospital, but at the same time a mysterious virus breaks out which turns people grey and causes chaos in the cities and him escaping from the city to the countryside. This was a really great book, which took in family, friendship and resilience issues, but I felt it was too long for the target audience with the zombie type grey characters being slightly dull and underwhelming for some readers who might prefer more action. AGE RANGE 10/11+
Young Billy narrates the fascinating story and we quickly realise that his mum is not like any others and he frequently changes schools and accepts her odd and erratic behaviour. Instead of watching television his mum teaches him survival skills such as tying knots and how to use the stars for direction, a theme which is revisited throughout the book. From our interpretation of Billy’s mum, we quickly assume that the former scientist (crucial to the plot) has mental health problems which he does not understand. The mother’s gradual decline dominates a fair bit of the first 200-pages with Billy going to live with his dad whilst she is in hospital, but at the same time a mysterious virus breaks out which turns people grey and causes chaos in the cities and him escaping from the city to the countryside. This was a really great book, which took in family, friendship and resilience issues, but I felt it was too long for the target audience with the zombie type grey characters being slightly dull and underwhelming for some readers who might prefer more action. AGE RANGE 10/11+
July 18, 2021
Billy’s mum is obsessed with teaching him survival skills. She believes he will need them in the future but doesn’t say why. As her behaviour becomes more and more bizarre, Billy is worried about missing school and not being able to see his dad. When disaster strikes, Billy is forced to go and live with his dad, who gets annoyed every time he mentions survival.
When a mysterious virus hits the country and the family are forced to flee for their lives, Billy’s survival skills are what will keep them alive.
I loved the first half of the book. I enjoyed reading about Billy’s relationship with his mum and her struggle with her mental health. I liked the relationship between Billy and his friend Anwar and his dad’s girlfriend and daughter. However, once the virus hit, the story became less believable.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When a mysterious virus hits the country and the family are forced to flee for their lives, Billy’s survival skills are what will keep them alive.
I loved the first half of the book. I enjoyed reading about Billy’s relationship with his mum and her struggle with her mental health. I liked the relationship between Billy and his friend Anwar and his dad’s girlfriend and daughter. However, once the virus hit, the story became less believable.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2022
Billy lives with his mother, who has been teaching him survival skills. She's so obsessed with what seems to be a conspiracy theory that Billy is even missing school and moving places every 6 months. When she accidentally starts a fire Billy goes to live with his father, whom he hardly knows, while his mother gets some treatment.
However, suddenly there seems to be a virus outbreak which turns people's skin grey, affects their vocal cords and turns them into some sort of zombies. Suddenly, Billy's skills turn out quite useful.
I could find some similarities between this and the story from "Boy in the Tower" (the mother with a mental health issue, the global threat that is not yet well known, the good friendships), but I've still managed to enjoy this and looking forward to reading more books by Polly Ho-Yen!
However, suddenly there seems to be a virus outbreak which turns people's skin grey, affects their vocal cords and turns them into some sort of zombies. Suddenly, Billy's skills turn out quite useful.
I could find some similarities between this and the story from "Boy in the Tower" (the mother with a mental health issue, the global threat that is not yet well known, the good friendships), but I've still managed to enjoy this and looking forward to reading more books by Polly Ho-Yen!
October 26, 2022
This would have been a 4 star book (for me) but I felt it was overly long for the intended audience. I think the story could have been told in a more concise manner ensuring that those kids who can easily give up on a book if the action doesn't keep pumping, are kept wanting to read on. The size of the book means that I'm having some trouble "selling it" to my junior secondary school students.
The idea is good - Billy has been taught by his mother that he must learn all the "rules" of survival and to be prepared for what is coming. Unfortunately, Billy's mum doesn't tell Billy "what is to come" and is not present when things go REALLY bad. This leaves Billy to work out what is going on himself and to keep himself and his other family safe and alive. It has some worthwhile things to say about relationships (family and friends) and is suspenseful and thrilling at times.
The idea is good - Billy has been taught by his mother that he must learn all the "rules" of survival and to be prepared for what is coming. Unfortunately, Billy's mum doesn't tell Billy "what is to come" and is not present when things go REALLY bad. This leaves Billy to work out what is going on himself and to keep himself and his other family safe and alive. It has some worthwhile things to say about relationships (family and friends) and is suspenseful and thrilling at times.
March 19, 2022
This book had so much potential with an intriguing premise but the pace of the story let it down. In a post-lockdown world, a book about an infection spreading that causes widespread panic is perhaps not the most appealing. Yet, the protagonists mum, Sylvia, is hospitalised due to obsessions with safety, in the week before the infection becomes widespread. The protagonist, a 10YO boy, knows everything there is to know about staying safe - but when the infection hits, he chooses not to return to his mother. An unconvincing plot decision for me: this, alongside the slow pace, made this a slightly disappointing novel. Having loved The Boy in the Tower, perhaps my expectations were just too high!
March 13, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this one.
I picked up the audiobook and was surprised at the length, and I also went into it not knowing anything about it.
The beginning was quite slow and I couldn't really see where things were going, but then after Billy went to his Dad's it really picked up and did so again once the main crux of the story (the greys) got into it.
I thought this was done really well - it handled Billy's mum's paranoia, the strained relationship between Billy and his Dad and new step family. The new friendships. It's all just done so well and it feels like a really good foray into dystopia for kids. It was exactly what I needed right now.
I picked up the audiobook and was surprised at the length, and I also went into it not knowing anything about it.
The beginning was quite slow and I couldn't really see where things were going, but then after Billy went to his Dad's it really picked up and did so again once the main crux of the story (the greys) got into it.
I thought this was done really well - it handled Billy's mum's paranoia, the strained relationship between Billy and his Dad and new step family. The new friendships. It's all just done so well and it feels like a really good foray into dystopia for kids. It was exactly what I needed right now.
October 1, 2021
the way my face is stained by tears as i was incredibly near from the very end of the story....
to simply summarize it: this book is about bravery, trust, and faithful.
bravery: you need to be brave in taking your every action.
trust: you've got to trust yourself for you can go through things. and also, it's okay to rely on someone and ask for their help.
faithful: it's important to keep on sticking with your loved ones and to not give up on them.
to simply summarize it: this book is about bravery, trust, and faithful.
bravery: you need to be brave in taking your every action.
trust: you've got to trust yourself for you can go through things. and also, it's okay to rely on someone and ask for their help.
faithful: it's important to keep on sticking with your loved ones and to not give up on them.
January 4, 2023
Fijn eind van de wereld/zombie boek voor kinderen, natuurlijk met een goede afloop. Enige minpunt vond ik dat het gedrag van de moeder daardoor deels gerechtvaardigd leek, maar dat werd goedgemaakt door het expliciet benoemen van het feit dat ze hulp nodig had en die vervolgens ook kreeg. Waardoor dat minpunt, eens beide kinderen het boek gelezen hadden, het startpunt werd van een gesprek over hoe de wanen van dat ene familielid invloed hadden en hebben op de mensen eromheen.
August 2, 2022
I don’t normally review books, but I felt this book deserved one. Gripping from start to finish. Fantastic characters and storyline, it had our whole family mesmerised listening to it on a long journey. Polly Ho-Yen is one of the best writers around for children and this book is one of her best. Totally recommend.
June 29, 2022
This was a pretty good read, with likeable characters who showed real friendship and resilience.
A good dose of zombie-like horror, not very graphic.
things resolved well in the end if a bit to simply
A good dose of zombie-like horror, not very graphic.
things resolved well in the end if a bit to simply
August 21, 2021
What an incredible book! It’s action packed, intriguing and full of short and snappy chapters that compel you to keep reading. Highly recommended.
September 15, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, the story is very relevant to the world right now and I would definitely recommend it.
May 16, 2022
Read this with my 8 year old.
Bit touchy after Covid but my son really enjoyed it and couldn't get enough
Bit touchy after Covid but my son really enjoyed it and couldn't get enough
May 29, 2022
Greater distopian/zombie apocalypse vibes than I expected, but not too scary. Mixing contemporary fiction with sci-fi elements. Very good, fast paced read.
June 6, 2022
I found this book very interesting and fast paced. Amazing wording. I would say it is an adventure book. Hope you enjoy reading it
January 16, 2023
Great. Loved it! It's like Invasion of the Body Snatches for 10 year olds. Can't wait to read it to my kids.
February 22, 2023
I read this book as part of a Book awards at the school I work at as a librarian.
It is suitable for ages 11-12 years.
It is very similar to a zombie apocalypse film.
It is suitable for ages 11-12 years.
It is very similar to a zombie apocalypse film.
October 15, 2023
Interesting take on mental health and the effect on loved ones for the first half, but the ending was a bit too neat to be satisfying
January 8, 2025
It was so damn good!
This is the only book I've read that's made me close to tears
This is the only book I've read that's made me close to tears
May 4, 2025
Great action/peril scenes. My children were entralled.
June 23, 2021
Billy's Mum has been teaching him survival techniques for years often taking him out of school on adventures to practice but it seems she is becoming increasingly obsessed, which concerns him a bit. It is almost like she is prepping him for some future event.
When one of her survival lessons goes wrong Billy ends up living with his Dad and he finds it difficult to adjust to this new life, plus he's worried about his mum who is now in hospital. On top of all this his Dad doesn’t agree with anything that his Mum has taught him and he starts to wonder whether his Mum's rules were right or should he believe his Dad! As always the truth is often more difficult to grasp than you think and when Billy and his friends think they see a dead man come alive he starts to think his Mum might be right after all and maybe the survival skills might come in handy.
I loved this book, the characters were great and the zombie theme is so rare in a middle grade novel and yet Polly Ho-Yen carries it off so well making it exciting but not at all scary! I found myself so addicted to the story that I finished it one afternoon!
When one of her survival lessons goes wrong Billy ends up living with his Dad and he finds it difficult to adjust to this new life, plus he's worried about his mum who is now in hospital. On top of all this his Dad doesn’t agree with anything that his Mum has taught him and he starts to wonder whether his Mum's rules were right or should he believe his Dad! As always the truth is often more difficult to grasp than you think and when Billy and his friends think they see a dead man come alive he starts to think his Mum might be right after all and maybe the survival skills might come in handy.
I loved this book, the characters were great and the zombie theme is so rare in a middle grade novel and yet Polly Ho-Yen carries it off so well making it exciting but not at all scary! I found myself so addicted to the story that I finished it one afternoon!
July 4, 2021
I love Polly Ho Yen’s books so was thrilled to hear of her latest title and even more excited to be given the opportunity to read it ahead of its publication.
Billy’s mum, Sylvia Weywood, is a bit different to other people’s mums which is why he finds himself pulled out of school on the last day of term before the Christmas holiday’s and standing in a wood learning survival skills as opposed to enjoying party games with his classmates. Sylvia has become increasingly obsessed with teaching Billy a strict set of rules, not just any rules…rules for survival; Be prepared; Pay attention; Trust no one; Master your fears; Never stop trying. But when one of Sylvia’s survival lessons goes wrong, Billy finds himself sent away to live with a dad who he barely knows while his mum is sent to a psychiatric hospital to ‘get better’.
Alone, confused and desperate for answers, Billy has no idea what his mum has been preparing him for but when a mysterious virus begins sweeping through the city that turns people into zombie-like creatures, aka ‘Greys', Billy must call on all his survival skills to keep his family safe…
Polly Ho Yen’s latest read is a gripping and well-imagined science-fiction narrative that kept me on tenterhooks throughout. Given the current global pandemic, the whole deadly virus scenario feels all rather familiar, although thankfully I haven’t seen too many zombie-like creatures walking down the street. And rather than adults being left to defeat the virus, Ho Yen has given us a child survivalist who is more than ready to take on the world.
This is a slow burn that gradually draws the reader in before wrapping its clutches around them and never letting go - much like the ‘Greys’ do to their victims. Ho Yen initially has readers trying to work out what the mysterious and erratic Sylvia is up to, where she disappears to in the middle of the night and what exactly Billy is being prepared for. When the answer dramatically reveals itself a tension-filled race against time ensues. Will Billy and his family evade the Greys? Will the adults believe Billy? Will Billy make it back to Sylvia? From the moment the ‘Greys' are introduced, the story becomes filled with trepidation, fear and lots of heart in the mouth moments. Readers can expect plenty of close calls and near misses with the infected as the action stays just the ride side of out and out horror - it is more thrilling escapes and edge of the seat suspense as opposed to zombie-gore fest.
The small number of characters are all brilliant and I love the real-world issues that they are dealing with. Ho Yen touches on mental health, parents separating, loneliness and the challenges of new family dynamics. Main protagonist Billy is a quite a complicated character who is dealing with plenty. He is trying to survive the virus, trying to survive his new family that sees him with his dad, his dad’s girlfriend Julie and Julie’s daughter Angharad, and desperately trying to get back to his mum. In order to survive everything he has to learn to trust, shows great resilience and of course, put into action the survival skills that Sylvia has taught him. By the end, the determined Billy has really come-of-age and after surviving the zombie apocalypse, he is more than ready to face any challenge that life throws at him.
How I Saved the World In a Week is a thoroughly engrossing read that is the perfect blend of family, friendship, survival and the importance of always being prepared. Making of a survival kit is optional but strongly advised.
Recommended for 9+.
With huge thanks to Polly Ho Yen and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy that I received via NetGalley.
Billy’s mum, Sylvia Weywood, is a bit different to other people’s mums which is why he finds himself pulled out of school on the last day of term before the Christmas holiday’s and standing in a wood learning survival skills as opposed to enjoying party games with his classmates. Sylvia has become increasingly obsessed with teaching Billy a strict set of rules, not just any rules…rules for survival; Be prepared; Pay attention; Trust no one; Master your fears; Never stop trying. But when one of Sylvia’s survival lessons goes wrong, Billy finds himself sent away to live with a dad who he barely knows while his mum is sent to a psychiatric hospital to ‘get better’.
Alone, confused and desperate for answers, Billy has no idea what his mum has been preparing him for but when a mysterious virus begins sweeping through the city that turns people into zombie-like creatures, aka ‘Greys', Billy must call on all his survival skills to keep his family safe…
Polly Ho Yen’s latest read is a gripping and well-imagined science-fiction narrative that kept me on tenterhooks throughout. Given the current global pandemic, the whole deadly virus scenario feels all rather familiar, although thankfully I haven’t seen too many zombie-like creatures walking down the street. And rather than adults being left to defeat the virus, Ho Yen has given us a child survivalist who is more than ready to take on the world.
This is a slow burn that gradually draws the reader in before wrapping its clutches around them and never letting go - much like the ‘Greys’ do to their victims. Ho Yen initially has readers trying to work out what the mysterious and erratic Sylvia is up to, where she disappears to in the middle of the night and what exactly Billy is being prepared for. When the answer dramatically reveals itself a tension-filled race against time ensues. Will Billy and his family evade the Greys? Will the adults believe Billy? Will Billy make it back to Sylvia? From the moment the ‘Greys' are introduced, the story becomes filled with trepidation, fear and lots of heart in the mouth moments. Readers can expect plenty of close calls and near misses with the infected as the action stays just the ride side of out and out horror - it is more thrilling escapes and edge of the seat suspense as opposed to zombie-gore fest.
The small number of characters are all brilliant and I love the real-world issues that they are dealing with. Ho Yen touches on mental health, parents separating, loneliness and the challenges of new family dynamics. Main protagonist Billy is a quite a complicated character who is dealing with plenty. He is trying to survive the virus, trying to survive his new family that sees him with his dad, his dad’s girlfriend Julie and Julie’s daughter Angharad, and desperately trying to get back to his mum. In order to survive everything he has to learn to trust, shows great resilience and of course, put into action the survival skills that Sylvia has taught him. By the end, the determined Billy has really come-of-age and after surviving the zombie apocalypse, he is more than ready to face any challenge that life throws at him.
How I Saved the World In a Week is a thoroughly engrossing read that is the perfect blend of family, friendship, survival and the importance of always being prepared. Making of a survival kit is optional but strongly advised.
Recommended for 9+.
With huge thanks to Polly Ho Yen and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy that I received via NetGalley.
July 11, 2021
I was absolutely gripped by The Boy in the Tower last year, it was one of my most memorable lockdown reads so I was eagerly anticipating How I Saved the World in a Week.
Polly Ho-Yen has delivered another dystopian thriller of apocalyptic proportions! Think 28 Days Later with a hint of Walking Dead for Middle Grade with themes of friendship, family & mental health throughout.
Billy’s mum isn’t like other mums. All she wants is to teach him the Rules of Survival – how to make fire, build shelter and find food. She likes to test Billy on the rules until one day she goes too far, and Billy is sent to live with a dad he barely knows.
Then the world changes forever as people begin to be infected with a mysterious virus that turns their skin grey. As chaos breaks out, Billy has to flee the city. Suddenly he realises that this is what his mum was preparing him for – not just to save his family, but to save the whole world.
Oh my word! This is as good as The Boy in The Tower if not better! In Part One of the plot we see the sharp decline of Sylvia (Billy’s mum’s) mental health. Preoccupied with survival, former scientist Sylvia begins to obsessively stockpile supplies in a Martello Tower on the Kent Coast. Leaving Billy alone in their flat she drives to the Tower night after night to make ‘preparations’ although for what no-one knows. Sketchy drawings of grey, terrifying figures are plastered on every surface of the inside walls of the dark, dank tower and two sleeping bags lay on the floor of a cell-like room.
Sylvia repeatedly pulls Billy out of school unexpectedly and furiously drills him on ‘How to Survive.’ The two of them spend the days when Billy should be in school building shelters and fires until one day, there are disastrous consequences. Social services place Billy with his estranged dad Steve where he struggles to settle. As if trying to live with a dad he barely knows wasn’t enough, Billy has Steve’s girlfriend Julie and her daughter Angharad to contend with. Luckily, he finds solace in classmate Anwar and the two of them become firm friends.
Part Two is where it all kicks off big time! Like in any good zombie apocalypse film there are subtle hints to begin with to what’s coming but all too soon, the world as Billy knows it is being overtaken by ‘Greys,’ infected humans that live on in a zombie-like state, searching for more bodies to feed on.
Billy, Steve, Julie and Angharad are amongst the mass exodus as thousands flee the city in sheer panic. Miles and miles of queuing traffic and then eerie streets with abandoned cars for me was reminiscent of scenes in I am Legend and Stephen King’s The Stand.
Prepare for utterly heart-pounding, nail-biting tension as the family try to escape the zombie-like greys waiting for their next feast. My heart was in my mouth on more than one occasion as it looks like there is no escaping their fate – think dead-ends… alleyways…deserted office blocks… Imagine being in the middle of nowhere, you’ve walked mile after mile, supplies running out, too scared to close your eyes…too scared to open them…
There’s gut-wrenchingly emotional moments when loved-ones are separated and goodbyes are said. This is an epic quest of survival, will Billy make it out alive? And what kind of world will greet them on the other side (if there is one)
This is binge-reading at it’s best, once you start you will not be able to put it down. I read some scenes literally holding my breath it’s that eerie. An absolute must read!
Polly Ho-Yen has delivered another dystopian thriller of apocalyptic proportions! Think 28 Days Later with a hint of Walking Dead for Middle Grade with themes of friendship, family & mental health throughout.
Billy’s mum isn’t like other mums. All she wants is to teach him the Rules of Survival – how to make fire, build shelter and find food. She likes to test Billy on the rules until one day she goes too far, and Billy is sent to live with a dad he barely knows.
Then the world changes forever as people begin to be infected with a mysterious virus that turns their skin grey. As chaos breaks out, Billy has to flee the city. Suddenly he realises that this is what his mum was preparing him for – not just to save his family, but to save the whole world.
Oh my word! This is as good as The Boy in The Tower if not better! In Part One of the plot we see the sharp decline of Sylvia (Billy’s mum’s) mental health. Preoccupied with survival, former scientist Sylvia begins to obsessively stockpile supplies in a Martello Tower on the Kent Coast. Leaving Billy alone in their flat she drives to the Tower night after night to make ‘preparations’ although for what no-one knows. Sketchy drawings of grey, terrifying figures are plastered on every surface of the inside walls of the dark, dank tower and two sleeping bags lay on the floor of a cell-like room.
Sylvia repeatedly pulls Billy out of school unexpectedly and furiously drills him on ‘How to Survive.’ The two of them spend the days when Billy should be in school building shelters and fires until one day, there are disastrous consequences. Social services place Billy with his estranged dad Steve where he struggles to settle. As if trying to live with a dad he barely knows wasn’t enough, Billy has Steve’s girlfriend Julie and her daughter Angharad to contend with. Luckily, he finds solace in classmate Anwar and the two of them become firm friends.
Part Two is where it all kicks off big time! Like in any good zombie apocalypse film there are subtle hints to begin with to what’s coming but all too soon, the world as Billy knows it is being overtaken by ‘Greys,’ infected humans that live on in a zombie-like state, searching for more bodies to feed on.
Billy, Steve, Julie and Angharad are amongst the mass exodus as thousands flee the city in sheer panic. Miles and miles of queuing traffic and then eerie streets with abandoned cars for me was reminiscent of scenes in I am Legend and Stephen King’s The Stand.
Prepare for utterly heart-pounding, nail-biting tension as the family try to escape the zombie-like greys waiting for their next feast. My heart was in my mouth on more than one occasion as it looks like there is no escaping their fate – think dead-ends… alleyways…deserted office blocks… Imagine being in the middle of nowhere, you’ve walked mile after mile, supplies running out, too scared to close your eyes…too scared to open them…
There’s gut-wrenchingly emotional moments when loved-ones are separated and goodbyes are said. This is an epic quest of survival, will Billy make it out alive? And what kind of world will greet them on the other side (if there is one)
This is binge-reading at it’s best, once you start you will not be able to put it down. I read some scenes literally holding my breath it’s that eerie. An absolute must read!
August 11, 2021
Books for children with the end of the world theme can go in many ways. This chooses a reasonably unique path to tread. I found the first half of the book more to my taste. It was emotional and heart-rending, and it was hard not to feel for the lead protagonist.
Billy has a difficult upbringing. We have a mother who has drilled the severest form of preparedness into him. This has even led to him not having any social life apart from getting ready for the end of the world as they know it. This is the beginning of the story. When his mother's actions put her away for a while, he is sent to live with his father.
I feel a lot of discrepancy in the story's tone by the time we get to this point. I understand that children probably absorb things differently, but I felt a little cheated. We are led to believe in a certain angle to look at the troubled mother-son relationship and Billy and his mother as individuals. After this point, the end of the world arrives, and the way things wrap up seemed to take a whole other route!
I must admit that a certain logic was incorporated to link the beginning part of the story to the final reveal, but I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped. It is still an interesting book with colourful and different characters with a wide range of behaviours. I would recommend it for children who like an adventure mixed into family life with the world's future riding on our protagonist's actions.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Billy has a difficult upbringing. We have a mother who has drilled the severest form of preparedness into him. This has even led to him not having any social life apart from getting ready for the end of the world as they know it. This is the beginning of the story. When his mother's actions put her away for a while, he is sent to live with his father.
I feel a lot of discrepancy in the story's tone by the time we get to this point. I understand that children probably absorb things differently, but I felt a little cheated. We are led to believe in a certain angle to look at the troubled mother-son relationship and Billy and his mother as individuals. After this point, the end of the world arrives, and the way things wrap up seemed to take a whole other route!
I must admit that a certain logic was incorporated to link the beginning part of the story to the final reveal, but I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped. It is still an interesting book with colourful and different characters with a wide range of behaviours. I would recommend it for children who like an adventure mixed into family life with the world's future riding on our protagonist's actions.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
May 11, 2021
This is my first experience of a novel by Polly Yo Hen and I was not disappointed at all.
This tells the story of Billy. He has grown up quite isolated and told not to trust anyone. His mum Sylvia has been preparing him for survival.
Billy ends up living with his dad and comes across some strange events, through which the survival skills he's learned are needed more than ever.
A great and slightly spooky story of friendship and letting others in. A great read.
This tells the story of Billy. He has grown up quite isolated and told not to trust anyone. His mum Sylvia has been preparing him for survival.
Billy ends up living with his dad and comes across some strange events, through which the survival skills he's learned are needed more than ever.
A great and slightly spooky story of friendship and letting others in. A great read.
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